An Ode to Mandarins
--to the musical tune The Washing Stream
Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo')
English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Dec. 2024)
When frost faded chrysanths and lotus leaves,
Golden mandarins stand out among lush green，
Framing the village cottage with bamboo railing.
The fruit bursts with a mist refreshing and sweet.
The first taste cools the soul like soothing stream.
The scent lingers on Wu ladies’ fingers for a week.
Analysis:
This was composed in 1082 when Dongpo was still at Huangzhou as a exiled officer. Huangzhou used to be part of the Wu State in history, hence the expression ‘Wu ladies’ in the last line. Mandarines from Wu used to be fruits of tribute to the Royal family as they had the best flavor. Su Shi was a foodie and has left us many poems on food. He had made some famous dish which are still popular today, and they are all my favorite too. His taste for food well explains the vivid description here in the second stanza – the taste, the scent, and the pleasant memory.
Chrysanthemum and lotus are usually used to imply good spirit of bravery and purity. To Dongpo, every hardship could be short-lived as he could always find consolation from good food. So when good virtue is not appreciated or totally ignored, good food and wine with friends would get you back to your feet. For a richer association, please refer to his other poems “Upon Arriving at Huangzhou”(《初到黄州》) and “ To Liu Jingwen”（《赠刘景文》）.
浣溪沙·咏橘
原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋）
菊暗荷枯一夜霜，
新苞(bāo)绿叶照林光，
竹篱(lí)茅舍出青黄。
香雾噀(xùn)人惊半破，
清泉流齿怯(qiè)初尝，
吴姬三日手犹香。
Reference:
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